Induction of Reactive Bone Stromal Fibroblasts in 3D Models of Prostate Cancer Bone Metastases

SIMPLE SUMMARY: When prostate cancer cells spread to other parts of the body (metastasise), they frequently migrate to the bone. Here they encounter a microenvironment that differs greatly from that in the primary tumour (prostate), namely interactions with bone-specific cells, including fibroblasts. To better understand the contribution of these fibroblasts to tumour progression, it is the aim of the current paper to propagate a biologically relevant fibroblast population that mimics the cellular and molecular profile of fibroblasts as found in the metastatic bone environment in the body. Using three-dimensional (3D) cell culture models, we were able to transform normal fibroblast cells into fibroblasts that express modified protein and gene profiles similar to those found in fibroblasts in the metastatic bone environment in the body. The exploitation of these engineered 3D models could help further unravel the novel biology regulating metastatic growth and the role fibroblasts play in the colonisation process. Elucidation of these processes has the potential to aid in the development of therapies not currently available for late-stage cancers. ABSTRACT: A dynamic interplay between prostate cancer (PCa) cells and reactive bone stroma modulates the growth of metastases within the bone microenvironment. Of the stromal cells, metastasis-associated fibroblasts (MAFs) are known to contribute but are the least studied cell type in PCa tumour progression. It is the aim of the current study to establish a biologically relevant 3D in vitro model that mimics the cellular and molecular profiles of MAFs found in vivo. Using 3D in vitro cell culture models, the bone-derived fibroblast cell line, HS-5, was treated with conditioned media from metastatic-derived PCa cell lines, PC3 and MDA-PCa 2b, or mouse-derived fibroblasts 3T3. Two corresponding reactive cell lines were propagated: HS5-PC3 and HS5-MDA, and evaluated for alterations in morphology, phenotype, cellular behaviour, plus protein and genomic profiles. HS5-PC3 and HS5-MDA displayed distinct alterations in expression levels of N-Cadherin, non-functional E-Cadherin, alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), Tenascin C, and vimentin, along with transforming growth factor receptor expression (TGF β R1 and R2), consistent with subpopulations of MAFs reported in vivo. Transcriptomic analysis revealed a reversion of HS5-PC3 towards a metastatic phenotype with an upregulation in pathways known to regulate cancer invasion, proliferation, and angiogenesis. The exploitation of these engineered 3D models could help further unravel the novel biology regulating metastatic growth and the role fibroblasts play in the colonisation process.